| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nolan Ryan | HOU | 9.34 | 198109090_HOU_ATL |
| Steve Carlton | PHI | 8.17 | 198109110_PHI_PIT |
| Britt Burns | CHA | 4.87 | 198109110_CHA_MIN |
| Jerry Reuss | LAN | 4.85 | 198109110_LAN_CIN |
| Tommy John | NYA | 3.93 | 198109091_MIL_NYA |
| Starter | Tm | Tier | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Lollar | SDN | -4.62 | 198109090_SDN_CIN |
| Ken Clay | SEA | -2.98 | 198109100_SEA_TOR |
| Rick Waits | CLE | -2.88 | 198109110_CLE_DET |
| Dick Ruthven | PHI | -2.7 | 198109090_WAS_PHI |
| Jim Clancy | TOR | -2 | 198109090_TOR_MIN |
Based on accumulated WAA for this season up to 1981-09-11.
| Rank | WAA | Name | IP | Tm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +002+ | 5.28 | Nolan Ryan | 116.7 | HOU |
| +003+ | 5.14 | Bob Knepper | 127.7 | HOU |
| +005+ | 4.68 | Steve Carlton | 156 | PHI |
| +006+ | 4.66 | Fernando Valenzuela | 156 | LAN |
| +007+ | 4.64 | Steve McCatty | 148 | OAK |
| +012+ | 3.77 | Dave Righetti | 79.7 | NYA |
| +013+ | 3.73 | Jerry Reuss | 124.3 | LAN |
| +015+ | 3.65 | Burt Hooton | 115.7 | LAN |
| +019+ | 3.42 | Sammy Stewart | 88.7 | BAL |
| +022+ | 3.16 | Vida Blue | 125 | SFN |
| +023+ | 3.1 | Tom Seaver | 131.7 | CIN |
| +024+ | 3.01 | Britt Burns | 128 | CHA |
| +032+ | 2.76 | Ken Forsch | 153.3 | ANA |
| +033+ | 2.7 | Bert Blyleven | 153 | CLE |
| +036+ | 2.67 | Jack Morris | 156 | DET |
| +037+ | 2.66 | Tommy John | 111.3 | NYA |
| +040+ | 2.58 | Dennis Lamp | 88 | CHA |
| +044+ | 2.48 | John Denny | 117.7 | CLE |
| +051+ | 2.2 | Doyle Alexander | 121 | SFN |
| +052+ | 2.19 | Milt Wilcox | 128 | DET |
| +056+ | 2.11 | Larry Gura | 138.3 | KCA |
| +058+ | 2.08 | Scott Sanderson | 110 | WAS |
| +066+ | 2.01 | Bill Gullickson | 126.7 | WAS |
| +067+ | 2 | Dave LaRoche | 38.7 | NYA |
| +068+ | 1.99 | Dan Petry | 105.7 | DET |
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